Golden Tate on Matthew Stafford: Best quarterback I’ve played with
Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate reveals in an interview that Matthew Stafford is the best quarterback he’s ever played with.
Golden Tate spent four and a half seasons with the Detroit Lions. In that time, the YAC King racked up a total of 416 receptions for 4,741 yards and 22 touchdowns. Tate was undoubtedly quarterback Matthew Stafford‘s favorite target in the Motor City.
The now 30-year-old Tate spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks, after being a second-round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. Alongside quarterback Russell Wilson, Tate would help the Seahawks win a Super Bowl at the end of the 2013 season.
A free agent the following year, Tate would sign a five-year, $31 million deal in Detroit, with $13.25 million in guarantees. With Stafford under center, Golden would immediately post the only Pro Bowl season of his nine-year career so far, recording 99 catches for 1,331 yards and four scores in 2014.
But after more than four productive years in Detroit, and approaching the age of 30, the Lions decided to trade Tate last year, sending the veteran receiver to the Philadelphia Eagles midseason in exchange for a 2019 third-round selection. Golden would go on to post 30 receptions for 278 and one touchdown for Philly in eight regular-season appearances. In the playoffs, Tate put up seven catches for 64 yards and a score in two postseason games.
A free agent this offseason, Tate signed a four-year, $37.5 million contract to join the New York Giants, remaining in the NFC East. Now that the 30-year old is a member of the Giants, he’s looking back and showing some love to his former passer.
Here’s what Tate told clickondetroit.com during a video interview about his time spent playing with Stafford in Detroit …
"” … I think Stafford’s been the best quarterback I’ve played with. The guy can flat-out play. He’s tough, his attitude is amazing and he just wants to play ball … I think over his career, if you put him in another organization, maybe things are different. I don’t know. Because I’ve played with some guys over my years that I’ve won playoff games with that I don’t think are as good”."
That’s a huge statement from Tate concerning Stafford. The former Seahawk receiver won a championship with Wilson under center. He also played with Matt Hasselbeck to start his career in Seattle. And, last season, Tate played with both Eagles quarterbacks Carson Wentz and the 2017 Super Bowl MVP, Nick Foles. Yet, Golden believes Stafford is better than all of them.
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Matthew Stafford and Golden Tate will go down as one of the most productive duos in Detroit Lions’ history. And the veteran wide receiver undoubtedly appreciates the time they played together and how Stafford has helped his career. It was a special and unique pairing that we may never quite see the likes of again in Motown.